Which step follows data collection in crime scene reconstruction?

After data collection in crime scene reconstruction, the next step is typically hypothesis formulation. This phase involves making an educated guess or assumption based on the evidence collected to explain what occurred during the crime.

Hypothesis formulation is crucial because it directs the investigative process, guiding which further evidence needs to be gathered or what experiments might need to be conducted to test the validity of the proposed explanation. This step is essential for organizing thoughts and narrowing down possibilities before moving on to testing the hypothesis against additional evidence or experiments.

Conjecture is a less formal approach and lacks the scientific rigor necessary for crime scene investigation, making hypothesis formulation a more appropriate step. Theory formulation comes after testing, where established hypotheses become widely accepted explanations if repeatedly supported by evidence. Therefore, it is clear that hypothesis formulation logically follows data collection in the sequence of crime scene reconstruction.